Photographic shutter.



J. E. THORNTON. PHOTOGRAPHIC SHUTTEB..

APPLICATION FILED DBG. 19, 1899.

.934,581 Y Patented Sept. 21, 1909.

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J. E. THORNTON.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SHUTTEB.'

APPLICATION FILED 1330.19, 1899.

Patented Sept.21,1909.

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JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, OIE MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SHUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1909.

Application filed December 19, 1899. Serial No. 740,949.

To all whom 1f/may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARD THORN- TON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and residing at Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England, whose postal address is Worsley Mills, Hulme, Manchester, aforesaid, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Shutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention primarily relates to single roller blind shutters arranged to move in two directions to expose the lens, first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, in order that it may be unnecessary to first cover the lens and sensitive plate before setting the shutter for another exposure. This form of shutter is therefore termed a safety or self-capping shutter.

The invention consists essentially in the combination with roller .blind shutters, of mechanism for operating the blind first in one direction and then in the reverse direction by the same spring.

The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l. is a front elevation of the shutter. Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing the actuating mechanism. Fig. 3. is an end elevation showing the actuating mechanism in a different position. Fig. 4. is an elevation showing the reverse side of the disk E and the stops g g g2 thereon. Fig. 5. is an end elevation showing a modification. Figs. 1 to 5 are drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 6. is a sectional elevation showing one form of mechanism for causing the rollers to rotate in either direction in unison. Fig. 7 is a transverse section through rollers and blind. Fig. 8. is an end elevation showing another form of mechanism for causing the rollers to rotate together in unison. Fig. 9. is an end elevation .showing another form of mechanism for causing the rollers to rotate together in unison.

The blind A employed in connection with this invention, is a flexible single blind, mounted on two rollers B and C which moves across the lens in one direction for one exposure (being wound up onto one roller) and moves back again across the lens in the oposite direction for the next exposure (being then wound up onto the other roller). The two rollers B and C to which the ends of the single blind are secured, are so connected that the blind A,

and the rollers B and C, always move together in unison. The point to be observed is, that a movement of one of the rollers in either direction, shall cause a similar movement of the blind, and the action is such that the blind is given a reciprocating motion.

My invention consists of the combination with a roller blind and its roller, of means for causing the rollers to rotate in either direction in unison, and a spring for giving motion thereto, in such a manner that the blind shall have a reciprocating movement in order that it may make an exposure on botlli the out and return portions of the cyc e.

A shutter made according to this invention comprises the following elements :m l. A blind suitably connected with two rollers; means for connecting such rollers and blind so that all may work in unison, a driv ing spring or springs for operating the rollers, directly or through suitable gearing in such a manner as to control the movement of the blind. Q. A release for setting in action the shutter blind such as pneumatic ball and tube, a cord, a trigger or other convenient arrangement, may be added and a suitable frame or case to carry the whole working part-s in correct position in relation to each other, completes the shutter.

The single flexible blind A, is mounted upon the two rollers B and C, which are connected together by cords or bands a, by a rack o2 gearing with pinions b3 and ofs or by a chain b4 on wheels o5 and c5, so that the rotation of either of the rollers in one direction unwinds the blind from one, and winds it upon the other, and vice-versa. One roller therefore only requires to be operated to move the blind backward and forward, or cause it to reciprocate. For this purpose springs D are connected to the blind roller B, in such a way, that in whichever direction the roller be rotated from its normal or zero position, the springs D will be put in tension and when it is released will rotate it in the reverse direction.

On the end of the driving roller B a small pinion b, is fixed, with which a quadrant disk E gears, the relative sizes being such'V that approximately one half revolution of the quadrant disk E will give the desired number of revolutions to the pinion b and blind roller B. Upon the quadrant disk E are litted two projecting pins e e with which a l pair ot pivoted ting'ers or levers F are caused to engage. The levers F are pivoted on a stud carried by a sliding' plate or bracket f to which the end ot the springs D arey also atached. The `springs D pass around the loose pulley JF as there is not sutlicient length in the shutter to allow ot their lying` altogether in the direct line o't action. The levers ln are made with a notch or shoulder at their tree ends to embrace the pins c and c, and as they are moved upward and come into contact with the pins, the inclined shape o1"` the end causes them to be forced apart and open with a scissor like action, and they then close upon one ot the pins by the action ot the springs j. The opening' movement of the levers lf vis facilitated by the inner edge being' pressed against the pin which has previously heen engaged (see c Fig'. 1:5), the lever l? being shaped as shown in Fig. l. to pass over the head of the pin before it closes back over the other pin. The torce ot' the springs D is thus alternately applied iirst to one pin and then to the other, to rotate the disk quadrant E, tirst in one direction and then in the reverse, as at each movement ot the disk the uppermost pin stops short ot' the dead center.

The disk E is on its inner or reverse side provided with a stop piece iitted thereto furnishing two stops g g projecting from the back. A detent or linger G pivoted upon the case ot' the shutter engages alternately with stops y g to hold the disk E (when the blind is set) against the :torce or action of the spring' D until released.

The finger or detent G is drawn back to etlect the release ot' the disk E and with it of the blind A by the p'ivoted trigger H, operated by the hand or lting'er ot' the operator or in any other convenient way.

For time exposure thesdisk E is provided with a third stop '(/2 with which a second detent G engages to arrest the travel ot the blind. The detent G is thrown into Contact with the stop g2 by the second trigger H and arrests the travel of the blind and holds it until the detent G is withdrawn. The backward movement otx the trigger lever H withdraws the detent and permits the travel of the blind to be resumed..

The shutter is re-set lor exposure by the lever F the end oit' which engages with the sliding' bracket j". lV-hen the tree end ot the lever F is depressed the bracket f is raised to connect the actuating mechanism, by means ot' the levers F with the uppermost pin e ron the disk quadrant E.

ln the modification shown in lF 5. the levers F are omittedand the spring D is connected to a lever D2 loose on the roller spindle. lt is moved around by the operator until it rests against the uppermost stop and when the disk is released it causes it to rl`he cords the bottom rotate nearly halt a revolution. shown in Fig. t3. pass around roller to canse it to rotate.

ll'hat l claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent l. ln a photographic shutter the combination with a tiexible blind, rollers upon which the blind is wound, and a spring' tor operating' the rollers and the blind of means lo connect the rollers to cause them to rotate in unison, and means to connect the actuating' spring with the roller, to rotate the rollers 'and blind first in one direction and 1then in the reverse direction t'or successive exposures.

ln a photographic shutter the combination with a flexible blind, rollers upon which the blind is wound and a spring tor operating' the rollers and the blind ot means to connect the rollers to cause them to rotate in unison, means to comiect the actuating' sjjiring' with the roller to rotate the rollers and blind tirst in one direction and then in the reverse tlli'rection for sucessive exposures, and means to set and release the blind.

ln a. photographic shutter the combination with a tlexible blind having a reiprocatiing' motion in reverse directions for successive exposures, rollers upon which the blind is wound, and mechanism connecting' the rollers to cause them to rotate in either direction in unison, ot' a driving' spring' to actuate the rollers, mechanism t'or connecting' the sprii'ig' to one roller and settingv it to operate first in one direction and Athen in the reverse direction and mechanism 'for releasing' and setting' in action the shutter blind, substantially as described.

et. In a photographic shutter the combination with the blind, the blind rollers and the mechanism connecting' the rollers to cause them to rotate in unison, of a wheel on the blind roller, a toothed disk E gearing' thereprovided with two projecting' pins and mechanism for connecting' thereto a spiral spring acting' in the direction ot its length to rotate the disk and the blind roller iirst in one direction and then in the reverse direction, substantially as described.

5. In a photographic shutter the combination with the blind, the blind rollers and mechanism connecting' the rollers to cause them to rotate in unison, of a pinion on the blind roller, a toothed disk E gearing' therewith provided with two pins, a spring D acting' in the direction ot' its length connected to the disk E, levers F to which the `spring D is attached and which alternately 'engage the pins e and e to rotate vthe disk tirstin one direction and then in the reverse, the sliding' bracket ji" and the operating' lever It", substantially as described,

6. In a photographic shutter the combination with the reciprocating' blind, the blind rollers and mechanism connecting' the rollers El (l llG to cause them to rotate in unison, of a wheel on the blind roller, a toothed disk gearing therewith, a spring operating in the direction of its length, mechanism for connecting the spring with the rollers, a detent for holding the disk from rotation when set, and a trigger lever for withdrawing the detent and releasing the blind for exposure, substantially as described.

7. In a photographic shutter a flexible reciprocating blind moving in reverse directions for successive exposures, rollers to which the blind is attached, mechanism connecting the blind rollers to cause them to rotate in unison, a pinion on the blind roller and a toothed disk provided with projecting pins gearing therewith, in combination with a long spiral spring acting in the direction of its length, mechanism 'for connecting the springwith the roller to rotate it alternately in different directions, the detent G to hold the disk when set, a trigger lever to withdraw the detent to release the blind and a detent G to arrest the blind substantially as described.

8. In a photographic shutter the combination with a reciprocating flexible blind, blind rollers to which the blind is attached, mechanism connecting the blind rollers to cause them to rotate in unison, and mechanism for rotating the rollers alternately in opposite directions, of the detent G for retaining the roller when set and the detent Gr for arresting the travel of the blind substantially as described.

9. A photographic shutter comprising in its construction a flexible blind, two rollers to which the blind is attached, mechanism connecting` .the rollers to cause them to rotate in unison in either direction, a driving pinion on the roller end, a toothed disk E provided with projecting pins gearing therewith, a long spiral driving spring D acting in the direction of its length, mechanism for l i s l E connecting the driving spring alternately l, with one and then the other of the pins on 1 the toothed disk E, a detent G to hold the l, roller when set, and detent Gr to arrest the i travel of the roller for time exposures, the I trigger lever H to release the detent G and i the trigger lever I-I to release the detent Gr l substantially as described.

I In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed 1 my name in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

l l l JOI-IN EDVARD THORNTON.

llVitnesses:

J. OWDEN OBRmN, E. HOWARD. 

